Anyone going to Indian Wells? I'll be there March 5-10. In the TW tent, we'll be giving away some useful gear and running some contests to meet and/or play against some of the pros (last year winners met Rafa & Stosur and some played against Aga Radwanska & Vania King).

Anyone going to Indian Wells? I'll be there March 5-10. In the TW tent, we'll be giving away some useful gear and running some contests to meet and/or play against some of the pros (last year winners met Rafa & Stosur and some played against Aga Radwanska & Vania King).

Or we can grab beers and hang out at the Corona bar and talk tennis.

Click to expand...

If I'm there we'll need to go get some better beer than Coronas..haha.

My folks lives in Socal and my dad usually spends a couple of days in IW each year, so maybe I'll fly down this time.

Anyone going to Indian Wells? I'll be there March 5-10. In the TW tent, we'll be giving away some useful gear and running some contests to meet and/or play against some of the pros (last year winners met Rafa & Stosur and some played against Aga Radwanska & Vania King).

Or we can grab beers and hang out at the Corona bar and talk tennis.

Click to expand...

Hi Daniel, I'll probably be at Indian Wells in March, I have a couple of friends/cleints that will be trying to qualify for wildcards. I'll try to stop by and have a beer. I'll be wearing my VS GUT T-shirt.

BTW, What are my chances of getting a Babolat Racket stand? I would not paying for one. Also where can I get the new Babolat Stencil?

Is Babolat planning to come out with any racquet that don't have that hollow feeling and the weakness around the cortex area? Main thing that puts me off about Babolat sticks are that hollow / tinny / jarry feel which is a shame because I like the Pure Storm Tour alot. Could they not foam fill some of these sticks?

I have just recently purchased a new 2013 APD. I do all of my own stringing, and I can't find a stringing guide to this racquet anywhere on Babolat's website. Can you point me the right direction for where to find instructions?

I have just recently purchased a new 2013 APD. I do all of my own stringing, and I can't find a stringing guide to this racquet anywhere on Babolat's website. Can you point me the right direction for where to find instructions?

Thanks

Click to expand...

We haven't published the new one yet. Email me your questions and I can ask our in house stringing specialist (dbecker@babolat.com)

Is Babolat planning to come out with any racquet that don't have that hollow feeling and the weakness around the cortex area? Main thing that puts me off about Babolat sticks are that hollow / tinny / jarry feel which is a shame because I like the Pure Storm Tour alot. Could they not foam stick some of these sticks?

Click to expand...

Hollow feeling could be attributed to the broken racquet?

We provide a variety of types of racquets for all players. As you mentioned, some like the classic feel of the Pure Storm Tour more than the Pure Drive.

Hi Daniel, I'll probably be at Indian Wells in March, I have a couple of friends/cleints that will be trying to qualify for wildcards. I'll try to stop by and have a beer. I'll be wearing my VS GUT T-shirt.

BTW, What are my chances of getting a Babolat Racket stand? I would not paying for one. Also where can I get the new Babolat Stencil?

Click to expand...

First off, those shirts are awesome.

Those racquet stands are deceivingly expensive. We get a lot of requests for these and the jumbo racquets, so we have a policy they are only for retailers.

The stencil are being produced. A little slower than we had hopped given the new racquet and shoe launches. Retailers should have them n the next couple months,

I don't know what happened to the racquet above, but the build quality of the racquets is below average, even TW reviews mention things like buttcaps that squeak because they are not attached properly.

No, the hollow feeling is because the frames are.....hollow (and stiff).

Click to expand...

You are like Ali, retired and back again. Yes, unfortunately I agree. wanted to play like Rafa but my elbow resents the APD and I sense a lack of feel. Lower swingweight does not help the new APD in my opinion. Active cortex not enough to take away stiff feel. I will try VCore 97, 310 version. Welcome back and behave man.

Is Babolat planning to come out with any racquet that don't have that hollow feeling and the weakness around the cortex area? Main thing that puts me off about Babolat sticks are that hollow / tinny / jarry feel which is a shame because I like the Pure Storm Tour alot. Could they not foam fill some of these sticks?

Those racquet stands are deceivingly expensive. We get a lot of requests for these and the jumbo racquets, so we have a policy they are only for retailers.

The stencil are being produced. A little slower than we had hopped given the new racquet and shoe launches. Retailers should have them n the next couple months,

Click to expand...

I see the jumbo rackets all the time. A local tournament was raffling one off a while back. Unfortunately I did not win one. Since Babolat changed the stencl, when will the jumbo racket reflect the new stencil?

I see the jumbo rackets all the time. A local tournament was raffling one off a while back. Unfortunately I did not win one. Since Babolat changed the stencl, when will the jumbo racket reflect the new stencil?

I don't know what happened to the racquet above, but the build quality of the racquets is below average, even TW reviews mention things like buttcaps that squeak because they are not attached properly.

And there are lots of complaints with cracking in the Storm line.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments, all our racquets come with a 1 year warranty against manufacturer defect. If something is wrong, send them in and we'll get it replaced. We're always working to make better products which is reflected in the more recent reviews.

I have friend who's daughter is Top Junior Player. She plays with a 2012 APDGT. He noticed some cracking between the center main grommets on a couple of her rackets, either at the top or at the throat. These rackets are strung at least once a month, if not twice. For now the cracks have not gotten any bigger. I'm pretty sure it's just the paint, but is this normal? Can these be replaced under warranty?

I have friend who's daughter is Top Junior Player. She plays with a 2012 APDGT. He noticed some cracking between the center main grommets on a couple of her rackets, either at the top or at the throat. These rackets are strung at least once a month, if not twice. For now the cracks have not gotten any bigger. I'm pretty sure it's just the paint, but is this normal? Can these be replaced under warranty?

Click to expand...

It is warranty's call and they are trained in the specifics. Sending it in is pretty easy, so if it under a year, try it.

Right I've looked into this myself, and the official Babolat video was wrong!

The AeroPro Drive cortex version was indeed available for the whole of 2007, not 2008 which it said in the video. Daniel, I think you should have a word with someone:shock:

Click to expand...

In the past, there have been different release dates depending on the market. Usually some time between December and February (hence the span of 2007 to 2008). We're trying to get better at this, as with our latest launch of the Aeropro Drive with global 12/12/12 date.

The first link is a video we produced of the first time Rafa tested Babolat Play&Connect. There are more videos on our youtube channel if you want to watch...

It looks like they are confusing the test product with his new Aeropro Drive?

Click to expand...

They are.......the ESPN UK site is taking quotes from the Jan 2012 Play and Connect YouTube vid.......I'm enjoying reading all the funny responses on another thread from the folks thinking RAFA going to switch from the Aeropro Drive.....hahahaha

They are.......the ESPN UK site is taking quotes from the Jan 2012 Play and Connect YouTube vid.......I'm enjoying reading all the funny responses on another thread from the folks thinking RAFA going to switch from the Aeropro Drive.....hahahaha

I used a pure drive cortex (the 2008 model, the one before gt) and the cortex could be pretty easily peeled off, bought it from an extremely reputable tennis shop in the best club in my country, happened on 2 of the rackets i bought.

why does babolat advertise that the ''cortex'' actually goes through the throat of the frame when it is just a piece of plastic?

needless to say i will never purchase babolat again.

Also the aeropro is extremely fragile, ill admit i did throw it onto the ground but by no means did i smash it into the ground, it cracked at 2'o clock.

The new cortex totally different - and for the old version I never saw any claims than what it was - plastic polymer added to help dampen vibration.

I'm a big guy and hit hard and at 6' 2" / 188cm and at 51 playing for almost 45 yrs.......I have NEVER seen frames just breaking. Ive seen frames restrung over and over stress crack but not because he frame are fragile. They are not designed to be tossed, thrown or bounced on the hard ground period. When you factor in the pressure of stringing and constant tension - even what you think is a light toss any frame will crack........I play at the 5.0+ level and ITF Sr events and see TONS of strong players hitting huge and they have NEVER broken a frame (Babs or otherwise) - the constant BS that Babolats break or manufactured cheaply total crap.........rant over.